Mystical Mayan Experience

January 24, 2013

The Mayans predicted the end of the world in December 2012. As the world held its breath.... the world did NOT end last December, as many claimed the Mayan calendar said it would. Thankfully, that "prediction" was false and rather than the world ending, the Mayan calendar merely restarted itself into a new cycle. And what luck - that still gives us all an opportunity to go and see the remarkable sites left behind by their civilization. Take a tour with a private guide through the ruins of Chichen Itza, located in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula, and receive an in-depth education of Mayan history. You'll see the more well-known landmarks, like the giant Temple of Kukulcan, 365 steps tall symbolizing each day of year. If you're there at the right time of the year (the equinoxes in March in September) you can view the spectacular effect of the sun and shadows forming a serpent-shaped figure on the temple's staircase! Then it will be on to the ball court - but this isn't your normal basketball or soccer. The Mayans, unlike modern professional sports, played for keeps; the losers could very well wind up executed! With the Mayan traditions of human sacrifice to appease the gods and maintain harmony, often the leader of the losing squad would find himself paying the ultimate price for his failure on the field. Further into the ruins is the observatory the Mayans built to track the progress of the sun, moon, stars, and planets. A monument to the astronomical prowess of the Mayans, this edifice was one of the places they used to calibrate that famous (and fortunately non-apocalyptic) calendar. This rich history will envelop you as you peruse the remaining vestiges of a once-great civilization. Visiting this UNESCO World Heritage Site is clearly a mystical, magical experience that one should not miss!